Reptile Therapy

A few months ago on Facebook, I read an interesting article about the NHS recruiting snakes to help treat depression. This is being introduced to their assisted animal therapy programme.

A hospital in Roehampton is the first to recruit a 5ft corn snake allowing patients to care for, handle and feed. Doctors have reported the new therapy to be significantly helping to improve patients' self worth and moods and even giving others something to live for.

As snakes are unusual and not everyone comes across a snake in the UK, this in itself can provide a sense of achievement and provides a talking point to tell friends, family and even colleagues about.

In some cases animals can provide a lifeline, as they are non judgemental towards people. The patient also has something to care for and this can help them to get out of bed in the morning.

To read more about the NHS recruiting reptiles click here

Snowy The Corn Snake

I personally think that this is a great idea, as I myself have suffered from depression on and off for years. I find that when I'm having a bad day, caring for my collection helps me cope better and gives me something to look forward to. I also think that interacting with animals can be relaxing and rewarding. I would encourage more hospitals to use reptiles as part of their animal therapy programme and not just for depression but a host of illnesses as it's amazing how helpful and therapeutic interacting with a reptile can be!

How The Lacey Act Could Effect The Pet Trade

The Lacey Act was first introduced in the United States in 1990 and is a law that prohibits the trade of various wildlife, fish and plants that have been illegally transported, sold or possessed. It has allowed local govering authorities to implement civil and criminal penalties for those who have broken the laws.

Some of the snakes that have been added to the act include:

• Burmese Pythons
• 2 species of Rock Pythons
• Yellow Anacondas

Burmese Pythons

Furthermore, the Lacey Act carries penalties for the falsification of any documentation and also prevents the animals listed above from crossing state lines.

How does this effect those living in the USA?

• If you move for work or family, you can't take your animals to a different state.
• If you do educational shows.
• If you are in the army.
• Lots of jobs shall be lost for breeders and pet stores.

 How does this effect the hobby?

In the United Kingdom and Europe, many of the imported animals in the pet industry have previously been obtained from the United States. If more animals are added to the list then they can't be transported.

PETA may also have a say in the future of reptile keeping and may even go as far to introduce new laws in both the UK and Europe.

What can we do?

The hobby needs to promote education first and foremost in order to change negative perceptions against the hobby. Breeders and hobbyists would also need to come together and put differences aside to make the industry more friendly instead of jumping down one anothers' throats and arguing over the most stupid issues. We need to show that the reptile industry is taken seriously and that the facts are clearly displayed and a few negligent keepers can't spoil it for everyone.

• According to CDC data, dogs killed 167 Americans over the age of 14 between 2001 and 2010.
• From 2003 to 2007 (according to www.geog.ucsb.edu), 22 people on average are killed by cows in the USA alone.
• Between 1990 and 2012, the amount of constrictor attacks that resulted in fatalities was 10. (rexano.org) This means the lifetime odds of being killed by a pet constrictor is 1 in 9,513,742!